In a post-G1 Climax 31 press conference last week, Kazuchika Okada declared his intention to bring back the IWGP Heavyweight Championship as a symbol of his tournament win.
Today at NJPW’s Road to Power Struggle event in Korakuen Hall, he did just that.
When entering for his six-man tag team match at today’s show, Okada carried what is commonly referred to as the v4 IWGP Heavyweight Championship, a title that was retired earlier this year after it was unified with the IWGP Intercontinental title and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created.
Traditionally, the G1 Climax winner carries a briefcase with a contract inside guaranteeing a title match at Wrestle Kingdom. At the press conference, Okada lobbied NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi to be allowed to carry the belt rather than the case.
“…I won the G1, and I want to face [Kota]Ibushi again, but I feel there should be something concrete to represent that,” said Okada. “I’m not a champion, and I don’t have anything to put up. The IWGP Heavyweight Championship that Ibushi retired though… I’m not saying that people should call me the ‘X-ieth Heavyweight Champion’ or anything, but I want to hold that belt, until Ibushi gets back.”
Since the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship’s inception, Okada has made clear that he is not a fan of the title. In an interview on NJPW World in June, Okada called the title a “mistake” and referring to the run of illness and injuries that have befallen the company this year as the “IWGP Curse.”
Okada won the G1 Climax 31 finals by referee stoppage after Kota Ibushi suffered a shoulder injury, cutting their main event match short.
Okada is set to defend his Wrestle Kingdom title shot against Tama Tonga at NJPW Power Struggle on Saturday, November 6.
Dave Meltzer and I are back with Wrestling Observer Radio.
We talk about Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair having a confrontation backstage at SmackDown. We look at WWE’s Crown Jewel show from Thursday.
We talk more about Dave’s lead story in the newsletter about last Friday’s head-to-head battle and what he learned. We wish Jim Ross well in dealing with his skin cancer treatment.
Lastly, we talk about the G1 final and Kota Ibushi’s injury, Kazuchika Okada coming to San Jose, and AEW Rampage.
NJPW has announced the card for tomorrow morning’s G1 Climax 31 finals at Budokan Hall.
The undercard for tonight’s show mainly consists of tag team matches. In the co-main event, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan will team with Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato to take on the Los Ingobernables de Japon contingent of Shingo Takagi, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI.
In the main event, A Block winner Kota Ibushi will face B Block winner Kazuchika Okada. Ibushi is looking to win the tournament for the third consecutive year in a row, while Okada has previously won the tournament in 2012 and 2014.
The full card for this year’s finals is as follows:
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi in the G1 Climax 31 finals
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, and Tiger Mask vs. KENTA , Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Chase Owens
Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, and SHO
Yuji Nagata and Toru Yano vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
(Pre-show) El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Kosei Fujita and Ryohei Oiwa
The event will begin at 4:30 am ET, with the opening tag match taking place prior to the start of the main card at 5:00 am ET.
The G1 Climax 31 tournament continued today in the Nippon Budokan.
The winner of B Block was decided, as Kazuchika Okada defeated Jeff Cobb in the main event to win B Block. Okada will be making his third appearance in a G1 finals and his first since 2014.
Kota Ibushi defeated KENTA on Monday to advance to his record fourth consecutive G1 finals.
The G1 Climax 31 finals are set following today’s B Block finale.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Jeff Cobb with a Rainmaker in 23:35 to advance to Thursday’s G1 finals. He will face A Block winner Kota Ibushi in a rematch of Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one’s main event.
For Okada, this marks his third appearance in a G1 finals and his first since 2014. Ibushi will be appearing in his fourth finals and his fourth in a row. Ibushi extends the record that he set last year, as he is the only wrestler to make it to three consecutive G1 finals, let alone four.
The two have met a total of five times in singles matches in their career, with Okada winning three. Okada won their first two career bouts, while Ibushi won in their last meeting.
Hiromu and BUSHI gave the lads a little bit more offense than they have been. Oiwa remains miles ahead of Fujita, so they built the match around Fujita selling and Oiwa getting a hot tag.
Fujita and BUSHI began. Fujita was quickly cut off and worked over with very basic offense by Hiromu and BUSHI.
Fujita finally hit a dropkick to Hiromu and Oiwa got the hot tag. Oiwa hit a dropkick to BUSHI and knocked him off the apron. He used a dropkick and a gutwrench throw on Hiromu. He applied a crab. BUSHI saved, but got hit with a double tackle. Oiwa and Fujita hit a double dropkick to Hiromu.
Oiwa got another crab applied on Hiromu, but Hiromu forced a break. Hiromu got a crab applied to Oiwa and got the submission.
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G1 theme song performers JAM Project opened the show with a live rendition of the song in the ring.
B Block: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Chase Owens (8:27)
Solid undercard match here, but nothing to write home about.
YH worked the left arm. Owens responded in kind, snapping the left arm of YH in the ropes. YH rolled outside, Owens whipped him into the barricade. Back in, Owens hit a double axe handle off the top.
YH blocked another axe handle off the top with a thrust kick. YH hit a dropkick to the left leg. YH ducked a clothesline and hit a headhunter. YH blocked a slingshot spear and hit a dropkick to the face for a near fall.
Owens came back with a neckbreaker and a short clothesline. Owens avoided a rewind kick and hit a shining wizard. He went for a package driver, but YH fought out. YH hit a sloppy neckbreaker over his knee for a two count.
Owens blocked Kharma and used an inside cradle for a near fall. Owens hit a v-trigger. YH blocked a gun stun and hit Kharma to get the pin.
B Block: Hirooki Goto defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (15:19)
These guys had a great match with some cool reversals and misdirection spots. Tama Tonga should get some tournament MVP votes, he brought it every night.
They traded tackles and dropdowns. Goto hit a shoulder block and a misdirection lariat for some early shine. Tonga turned it into a brawl around ringside to get the heat.
Goto went up top, but Tonga cut him off an hit a Tongan Twist. Tonga hit a complete shot, an SRC and a supreme flow frog splash for a near fall.
Goto reversed a Jay driller into an ushigoroshi for a near fall. Goto hit a neckbreaker for a near fall. Tonga blocked a GTR. Goto hit a reverse GTR and a lariat into a double down. Tonga pancaked to avoid a mid kick attempt.
Tonga blocked a kick. Goto blocked a Gun Stun. A series of misdirection spots set up a headbutt from Goto, a head kick from Tonga and a Tonga bloody Sunday DDT for a near fall.
Tonga went for Gun Stun again. Goto blocked and used a leg sweep to set up a Goto-Sanshiki cradle for the flash pin.
B Block: Taichi (w/Miho Abe) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (14:58)
This was much different than a typical Tanahashi match, but it was excellent.
Whether work or shoot, the story of Taichi’s last three matches have been that he’s hurt. They played into that here.
Taichi went for a quick win with a gamengiri, an axe bomber and a Black Mephisto attempt. Tana blocked the Black Mephisto by striking at Taichi’s taped ribs. Tana used a Muta lock. Taichi forced a break.
Tana continued to dominate. Taichi ended up tied to the tree of woe, where Tana hit a dropkick. Taichi came back with kicks and a gamengiri. Tana used his Texas Clover Hold, but Taichi forced a break.
Taichi fired up and hit a forearm strike. Tana reversed Black Mephisto into a twist and shout, then hit a slingblade.
Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. He went for a standard High Fly Flow, but Taichi rolled out of the way, then used a Gedo clutch while holding the tights to steal the win.
B Block: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated SANADA (17:47)
This was a complete mess and featured all of everyone’s pet peeves about EVIL matches, plus the added bonus of the logic flaw in every SANADA match where he has the thing won with Skull End, then gives up the hold and misses a moonsault.
EVIL tried to walk out on the match before it started. SANADA threw him back in the ring.
After what felt like an hour of ref bumps, chair shots, Togo interference, exposed turnbuckles, and low blows, EVIL hit a chair shot and Everything is EVIL to get the pin.
B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Jeff Cobb (23:35)
A great match. Okada worked Cobb’s neck, Cobb worked Okada’s back, then the last ten minutes they just traded finisher attempts and it was awesome.
Cobb came out firing. Okada ducked a lariat and escaped a Tour of the Islands attempt to hit a neckbreaker. Okada hit a sliding dropkick and used another neckbreaker for a one count. Okada used a chinlock as he continued to work the neck.
Cobb reversed a whip, ducked a back elbow and hit one of his own. Cobb stood on Okada’s back. Okada rolled outside, Cobb went out after him and hammered him with forearms to the lower back. Okada beat the count back in.
Cobb hit a gordbuster and a pair of belly-to-belly suplexes for a near fall. Cobb missed a standing moonsault. Okada pounced and hit a flapjack, a back elbow, then used a dropkick to send Cobb to the floor.
Okada tried a plancha. Cobb caught it. Okada blocked a vertical suplex on the floor. Cobb blocked a DDT on the floor and hit a northern lights suplex on the floor. Back in, Okada sent Cobb back outside and hit a tope con giro.
Okada hit a missile dropkick. Okada hit his Rainmaker pose, but Cobb cut him off with a spin cycle and a standing moonsault, then an Oklahoma stampede.
They began teasing finishers. Cobb ducked a Rainmaker and hit two tombstones. Okada hit a Rainmaker, but could not follow up. Cobb ducked a lariat, but Okada hit a dropkick.
Okada used the Money Clip to set up a spinning tombstone. He went back to the Money Clip. Cobb got back to his feet. They traded backslide attempts. Cobb hit a headbutt.
Okada blocked a Tour of the Islands. Cobb ducked a Rainmaker. Okada used a cradle for a near fall just past 20 minutes.
Cobb blocked an air raid crash and hit a dropkick with Okada seated on the top buckle. Okada blocked a superplex. Okada blocked a second superplex attempt with a DDT off the top rope.
Okada missed a Rainmaker. Okada slid out of a Tour of the Islands and hit a dropkick.
Okada hit a landslide and a Rainmaker to get the pin.
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G1 Climax 31 Finals, Thursday, October 21, 5 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
One half of the G1 Climax 31 finals are set following today’s A Block finale.
Kota Ibushi defeated KENTA in the main event of today’s show at Yokohama Budokan to advance to his record fourth consecutive G1 finals. Ibushi extends the record that he set last year, as he is the only wrestler to make it to three G1 finals in a row, let alone four.
Ibushi finished A Block with 14 points and 7-2 record. He began the tournament 1-2, but won his final six bouts to stand alone atop the Block.
Ibushi now awaits the winner of Wednesday’s B Block finale between Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada to determine who he will face in Thursday’s G1 Climax 31 finals. Okada needs a win to advance. Cobb can advance with a win, a draw, a no contest, a double countout or a double DQ.
Ibushi entered the final night of A Block tied with Shingo Takagi, Zack Sabre Jr. and KENTA with 12 points. Shingo went to a double countout with Yujiro Takahashi to finish at 13. Sabre lost to Tanga Loa to remain at 12. Those results set up a winner-take-all scenario in the main event.
Here are the final A Block standings, the current B Block standings, plus the match lineup for the B Block finals on Wednesday.
The G1 Climax 31 A Block concluded today in Yokohama.
Five wrestlers remained mathematically alive heading into the final day of A Block action.
Here are results and a report from the show.
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Recommended matches —
Kota Ibushi vs. KENTA
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tanga Loa
Report —
Great-O-Khan defeated Satoshi Kojima (10:25)
O-Khan attacked before the bell and they brawled around ringside. O-Khan dominated the early-going. Kojima came back with machine gun chops, a DDT on the apron and a DDT in the center of the ring.
Kojima hit a brainbuster for a near fall. O-Khan blocked a lariat with a pump kick. Kojima blocked the Eliminator with a lariat. O-Khan used the iron claw. Kojima blocked the Eliminator. They hit simultaneous lariats.
O-Khan used the sheep killer to set up the Eliminator and score the pin.
A Block: Toru Yano defeated Tomohiro Ishii (11:08)
Ishii needed to win and every 12-pointer to lose or go to a double DQ, so he was effectively out but not mathematically eliminated headed into the night.
The story of the match was Ishii being wise to all of Yano’s tricks and narrowly avoiding defeat, until he didn’t. Ishii was good, Yano was Yano.
Yano used a towel around Ishii’s neck to take him down and try to score two quick pinfalls, but failed. Yano exposed a buckle.
Yano went outside and crawled under the ring. Ishii threw a corner pad at Yano on the floor. Yano whipped Ishii into the exposed buckle and used a schoolboy for a near fall.
Ishii blocked three low blow attempts and hit an enzuigiri. Yano turned one sliding attempt into a crucifix for a near fall. Ishii hit the sliding lariat on the second attempt.
Ishii hit a headbutt. Yano blocked a Vertical Drop Brainbuster, hit a low blow, then used a backslide to pin Ishii.
A Block: Shingo Takagi & Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) went to a double countout (13:36)
This was ruled a draw and each got one point. There was some good brawling here, but also some clunky spots.
Yujiro whiffed on a suicide dive as Shingo prepared to step into the ring, but Shingo sold the dive anyway.
Pieter provided a distraction and Yujiro hit Shingo with his walking stick on the floor. Yujiro maintained control of the brawl and tried to steal a countout win.
Shingo made his comeback with noshigami and a sliding lariat. Shingo was begging the crowd for reactions. Yujiro hit a hotshot across the tope strand. Shingo dead-weighted Yujiro on an Angle slam, but Yujiro powered him up and hit the move.
Yujiro used Miami Shine for a near fall. Shingo blocked Big Juice with a lariat and pounded the mat to try to wake the crowd up. Yujiro raked the eyes. Shingo blocked Pimp Juice and hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Yujiro blocked Last of the Dragon by biting Shingo’s hand. Yujiro rolled to the apron and low-bridged Shingo to the floor. Yujiro repeatedly sent Shingo into the fence to try to steal the countout. Both beat the count in at 19.
They continued to brawl on the outside. Yujiro hit Pimp Juice on the floor. Shingo hit a DVD on the floor. Yujiro hooked his ankle and prevented him from beating the 20 count. A double countout.
A Block: Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (17:31)
The pace these guys worked was insane. A great match.
Sabre tried to steal a quick submission with a cobra twist, but Loa fought it off. Loa tried to get a countout win by baiting Sabre to the floor. They did several countout teases. Loa went for a quick submission of his own with the OJK, but Sabre forced a break.
Sabre came back with a RNC in the ropes. Loa cut him off again and hit a standing moonsault. Sabre came back with la mistica. Loa hit a frog splash for a near fall. They traded suplexes and no-sold them.
Loa went for an electric chair. Sabre fought through and went for a clutch, but Loa reversed into an Apesh*t attempt. Sabre caught Loa in a flying octopus. Loa got the ropes for a break, then hit a lariat.
Loa hit a powerbomb for a near fall. Sabre got another octopus applied, then used it to set up a code red for a near fall. Sabre kicked at Loa’s arm, then hit two PKs. Loa kicked out at one. Loa got the better of a striking battle.
Sabre used a European clutch for a near fall. Loa reversed the clutch into his own clutch and got the pin.
A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated KENTA (26:16)
This was fun. They did one million things in the match. Some hit, some missed, but the drama was there.
They exchanged tentative strikes from kickboxing stances. Ibushi caught KENTA right in the face on a flying mid kick. KENTA rolled outside. Ibushi went out after, but KENTA posted him and took control of the bout. Both just beat a very generous 19 count back in.
KENTA used an STF. Ibushi got a brief comeback and went for the golden triangle moonsault, but KENTA tripped him up and Ibushi crashed to the floor. KENTA sent Ibushi up and over the barricade.
KENTA dragged Ibushi backstage. KENTA made it back to the ring. Ibushi beat another very generous 19 count back in. KENTA sent Ibushi into an exposed turnbuckle. KENTA used a chinlock.
Ibushi hit a powerslam and a moonsault. KENTA hit some short kicks. He went for a Busaiku knee, but Ibushi used a Matrix kip-up to avoid it and hit a kick and a half-and-half suplex. KENTA avoided the Bomaye and bumped Ibushi into the referee in the exposed turnbuckle. Red Shoes was down on the floor.
KENTA hit a DDT. KENTA brought a chair in. Ibushi no-sold a chair shot. Ibushi teased using the chair, but hit a kick to the head instead. Ibushi introduced a table on the floor. He teased a German off the apron, but KENTA blocked. Ibushi hit a backdrop on the apron.
Ibushi placed KENTA on the table. The table legs gave way. KENTA laid there anyway. Ibushi hit a splash off the post to KENTA on the table. The table refused to break. Both made it back in after yet another long 19 count.
KENTA hit a green killer and a double stomp off the top for a near fall. Ibushi fought out of a GTS. KENTA hit a series of palm strikes. Ibushi blasted KENTA with Kamigoye, but KENTA kicked out.
KENTA avoided another Kamigoye and sent Ibushi into the exposed buckle. KENTA used a hip toss for a near fall, then got Game Over applied. Ibushi forced a rope break at 25 minutes.
Ibushi hit a head kick. KENTA sent Ibushi into the exposed buckle and used a schoolboy for a near fall. KENTA hit a Busaiku knee for a near fall.
Ibushi blocked GTS and hit a v-trigger. He hit a Kamigoye to the back, then another Kamigoye to the front to get the pin and win the block.
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Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 18, Wednesday, October 20, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
B Block: SANADA vs. EVIL
B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Chase Owens
B Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga
B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taichi
Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita
It’s amazing how far ahead of Fujita that Oiwa is. Oiwa is already good. The difference really shows.
Hiromu and Oiwa began and picked up where they left off the other night with Hiromu just chopping Oiwa half to death. Fujita jumped in for a double tackle on Hiromu and some of the only Young Lion offense of the match. BUSHI and Hiromu took turns working the young boys over.
Fujita made a brief comeback on BUSHI and got a crab applied, but Hiromu broke it up with chops. Hiromu went to the floor with Oiwa and sent him into the barricade as BUSHI used a Boston crab to quickly submit Fujita.
B Block: Chase Owens defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (12:05)
Taichi must be hurting, because he hasn’t done much of anything in his last two matches. Owens took the bulk of the match and tried to work enough or both of them.
They started with some comedy, as Owens acted like he wanted a sumo match. He would posture up, then beg off and drink from a water bottle. They brawled outside. Owens reversed a whip into the barricade and followed with a dropkick into the barricade.
Owens worked over Taichi’s taped ribs. Taichi got a couple of hope spots with an axe bomber and a backdrop suplex, but Owens dominated. Owens asked Miho Abe to kiss him, she declined.
Taichi went for an axe bomber, but Owens cut him off at the pass and hit two v-triggers. He followed with a legdrop off the top and a package piledriver for the pin.
B Block: SANADA defeated Hirooki Goto (15:32)
They had a good closing stretch, but the match itself was nothing special.
After trading hammerlocks and headlocks, Goto sent SANADA outside after a shoulder tackle and a clothesline over the top. Back in, Goto worked a chinlock. SANADA pulled Goto off the second rope and rolled him outside.
SANADA sent Goto into the barricade. Back inside, SANADA used a paradise lock and a chinlock. Goto came back with a lariat, a heel kick, a bulldog and a misdirection lariat. SANADA fought off an ushigoroshi and hit a plancha.
Goto avoided a springboard dropkick and hit the ushigoroshi. They traded strikes. SANADA hit Goto with an ushigoroshi. Goto tried to use Skull End as they went for each other’s big moves, but SANADA reversed and hit a neckbreaker. SANADA missed a moonsault.
SANADA got Skull End. Goto reversed into a neckbreaker for a near fall. SANADA blocked a mid kick. SANADA used a cradle and an O’Connor roll for near falls. Goto escaped Skull End and cradled SANADA for two.
Goto hit a GTR. He missed with a lariat and SANADA used an O’Connor roll into a bridge for the pin.
B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated YOSHI-HASHI (14:13)
Very good stuff.
They traded headlocks. Tana hit a crossbody off the second rope and a dropkick to the knee. Tana worked over the left leg with a leg lock and an Indian deathlock. YH tried to fire back with chops, but Tana continued to keep him grounded by kicking at the left leg.
Tana missed a charge into the corner. YH hit a headhunter, chops and a neckbreaker. They did a great sequence where YH hit a vertical suplex, but Tana held on and hit twist and shout after landing. YH hit another vertical suplex off the grip. Tana hit two more twist and shouts from the position.
They traded strikes. YH ducked a slingblade. Each teased a dragon suplex, but YH was the first to land it. YH hit a lariat for a two count. Tana used an inside cradle for a near fall. YH hit a lariat. YH hit a backbreaker and a meteora.
YH hit kumagoroshi for a two count. Tana blocked Kharma and hit another twist and shout. They charged each other like rams. Tana hit slingblade. YH popped up and hit a lariat. Tana hit another slingblade for a near fall.
Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. He followed with a second High Fly Flow to get the pin.
B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) (16:45)
This was the overbooked mess that you would expect.
EVIL rolled to the floor immediately. Togo jumped on the apron for a distraction. EVIL jumped Cobb from behind, but Cobb overcame the attack to hit a leapfrog dropkick. EVIL used another distraction from Togo to take Cobb to the floor.
EVIL sent Cobb into the barricade. EVIL hit his baseball swing chair shot. Togo exposed a buckle. EVIL hit chops in the corner, then raked Cobb’s face. EVIL bumped Cobb into the barricade and the ring announcer.
Cobb made his comeback on the floor. He sat EVIL at the timekeeper’s table and bumped Togo into him. Back inside, Cobb hit uppercut forearms and a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cobb went for Tour of the Islands, but EVIL blocked with an eye gouge and slammed Cobb into the exposed buckle.
Cobb blocked Everything is EVIL. Togo jumped on the apron. Cobb tried to bump EVIL into Togo, but knocked the ref out instead. Cobb hit a powerslam. Togo hit Cobb with a chair. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. EVIL sent Cobb into the exposed buckle, but Cobb fired out with a lariat into a double down.
Togo interfered to prevent a Tour of the Islands. Cobb hit a spin cycle, but bumped the ref again. Togo choked Cobb with his ligature. Cobb hit a thrust kick to Togo. EVIL hit a low blow to Cobb.
Cobb ducked a chair shot and hit a thrust kick, sending the chair into EVIL. Cobb then hit Tour of the Islands for the pin.
B Block: Tama Tonga (w/Jado) defeated Kazuchika Okada (24:44)
Very good match with a great series of avoiding each other’s finishers in the closing stretch.
They began with some chain wrestling. Okada had the slight edge, then hit a slingshot senton to establish the advantage. Tonga rolled outside. Okada tried a whip into the barricade. Tonga reversed, but Okada jumped over the barricade to avoid impact. Tonga then hit a Gun Stun over the barricade to take over.
Okada beat the count back in. Tonga used a snap suplex and a chinlock. Okada came back with a flapjack. Okada sent Tonga outside and into the barricade. Okada blocked another Gun Stun on the barricade and hit a draping DDT off the barricade.
Back in, Okada went for the Money Clip. Tonga fought off the first attempt. Okada got it on a second time, but Tonga forced a break. Okada hit a DDT, a top rope elbow and a dropkick. Tonga ducked a Rainmaker and hit veleno.
Okada blocked a Tongan Twist. Tonga blocked landslide and hit a complete shot, then hit the Tongan Twist for a near fall. Okada avoided a Gun Stun and hit a spinning Rainmaker, but could not follow up.
Okada ducked a superman punch, but Tonga connected on an enzuigiri. Tonga avoided a shotgun dropkick attempt. Okada blocked a splash in the corner. Tonga blocked an air raid crash and hit a death valley bomb and supreme flow for a near fall.
Okada hit a backdrop and a dropkick. Okada hit a spinning tombstone. Tonga ducked the Rainmaker. Okada blocked a Gun Stun. Tonga avoided a dropkick. Tonga ducked another Rainmaker and hit a bloody Sunday DDT.
Okada blocked another Gun Stun and tried to reverse into landslide, but Tonga reversed that into a Gun Stun, then hit a double underhook piledriver to secure the upset.
Okada vs. Cobb on Wednesday will be for a spot in the finals. Okada needs a win, Cobb can advance with a win or a draw.
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Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 17, Monday, October 18, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today in Sendai.
Shingo Takagi took on The Great-O-Khan in the main event, while Zack Sabre Jr. faced Toru Yano in the semi-main.
KENTA vs. Tanga Loa and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi were the other tournament matches.
Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima, plus Hiromu Takahashi vs. Kosei Fujita were the non-tournament matches today.
Here are results and a report from the show.
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Recommended matches —
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi
Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima
Report —
Hiromu Takahashi defeated Kosei Fujita (7:46)
Hiromu gave Fujita a little bit more than he gave Oiwa last night, but not much. They had the same basic match.
Oiwa wanted to wrestle, but Hiromu just chopped his chest raw. Oiwa hit a slam, Hiromu cut him off with more chops. Hiromu went for a crab, but Oiwa used a small package for a near fall.
Hiromu hit more chops, then used the Boston crab for the submission.
Kota Ibushi defeated Satoshi Kojima (14:56)
I’m not even sure Ibushi broke a sweat here and he still had a great match. This was very good stuff.
They began simply, trading side headlocks and shoulder tackles. Kojima went for a plancha, but Ibushi got out of the way. Ibushi sent Kojima into the barricade and hit a big boot. Ibushi hit a slingshot splash back into the ring for a near fall.
After a rest hold, Ibushi won a striking battle. Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick. Ibushi missed an elbow in the corner, allowing Kojima to hit machine gun chops and his top rope elbow for a near fall as the momentum shifted.
Kojima hit a rolling elbow. Ibushi hit a flying mid kick. Ibushi hit a combination of strikes and a standing moonsault as he regained control. Kojima fought out of a last ride and hit a DDT. They rolled to the apron. Kojima hit a DDT on the apron. Ibushi may not have been able to beat the count back in, but Kojima went out after him and threw him back in.
Ibushi blocked a cutter and hit a last ride for a two count. Ibushi hit a Bomaye for another near fall. Kojima blocked Kamigoye and hit a cutter. Kojima hit a brainbuster for a near fall.
Ibushi blocked one lariat, but Kojima hit one with his other arm for a near fall. Ibushi hit a massive lariat. They hit simultaneous lariats. Ibushi went down, but Kojima did not. Ibushi blocked another lariat and hit a v-trigger.
Ibushi followed with the Kamigoye to get the pin.
A Block: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (17:00)
Ishii isn’t going to have a bad match. If he’s in there with someone who can’t work up to his level, he’s going to make sure the psychology is superb, so they laid out an intricate match with a bunch of counters and reversals of big moves.
Yujiro attacked as soon as Ishii stepped through the ropes. They brawled to the floor. Pieter took the ref while Yujiro used his walking stick on Ishii. Back in, they traded chops. Yujro used his legdrop and fisherman buster.
Ishii came back with a whip into the corner and a superplex. Ishii went for a powerbomb, Yujiro blocked by biting Ishii’s hand. Yujiro again avoided the powerbomb and hit a DDT. Ishii blocked an Angle slam. They traded strikes. Yujiro then connected with the slam for a two count. Ishii blocked Miami Shine. Yujiro blocked an enzuigiri and hit a lariat.
Yujiro hit a buckle bomb. He almost dropped Ishii right on his head as he just barely made it into the buckle. I watched this three times and I’m not entirely certain Ishii’s head didn’t just bounce right off the mat. He was okay enough to finish the match, and he’s so good at selling that it’s impossible to say, but I’m pretty sure he hurt his head, neck and shoulder on this spot.
Yujiro hit Miami Shine for a two count. Ishii blocked Pimp Juice and hit a Saito suplex.
They traded strikes. Ishii hit an enzuigiri and a sliding lariat for a two count. Ishii fired up and hit another lariat. Yujiro reversed Ishii’s finisher into a brainbuster. Yujiro hit Pimp Juice, but Ishii kicked out.
Ishii blocked Big Juice. They did a great series of counters and reversals. Ishii hit a lariat for a near fall, then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster to get the pin.
A Block: KENTA defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (22:12)
KENTA saves himself for big spots, and he did not consider this a big spot. The match wasn’t bad, but I marvel sometimes at the way he manages to do absolutely nothing.
KENTA spent the first five minutes of the match running away from Loa. KENTA would roll outside, Loa would go out after him, KENTA would roll back in the ring.
Jado finally put a stop to this and blocked KENTA as he went to roll out of the ring. Loa then took control of the match. He used a chinlock and an OJK. Loa busted out a standing moonsault for a near fall. Loa used a blue thunder bomb.
KENTA got a brief comeback with a powerslam and a clothesline off the top, but Loa regained control after tossing KENTA outside and into the barricade. KENTA cut Loa off as he went to get back in and hit a green killer for a near fall. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top for a two count.
They traded strikes. Loa hit an exploder. KENTA bumped the referee and hit a low blow. Jado got on the apron. KENTA kicked the middle rope into Jado’s groin.
KENTA grabbed Jado’s kendo stick and did the Eddie Guerrero spot as the referee was revived. As the ref went to get Jado out of the ring, Loa hit a low blow on KENTA.
Loa went for a powerbomb. KENTA blocked. Loa went for Apesh*t, but KENTA backed him into the buckle and schoolboyed him with his feet on the ropes for the pin.
A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Toru Yano (6:42)
This was short. A typical Yano comedy match.
Sabre tried to steal a win by attacking Yano as he stepped through the ropes. Sabre used a cradle for a near fall. Yano got a cradle for two. Sabre got another near fall.
Yano rolled out to the floor. Sabre went after him. Yano got back in the ring. Yano hit a belly-to-belly. Sabre rolled outside. Yano carried Sabre backstage. Yano ran back to the ring. Sabre entered with a blindfold on. Sabre beat the count.
Yano used a cross armbreaker. Sabre reversed into his own cross armbreaker, but Yano got his foot on the ropes. They fought on the floor. Yano crawled under the ring. Sabre pulled him back out with an ankle lock.
Yano brought out a pair of handcuffs. Sabre cuffed himself to Yano. They beat the count back in. Yano used a fireman’s carry into a cradle. They traded cradles. Sabre got a cross armbreaker. Yano got the handcuff key out, but Sabre kept him from freeing himself and Yano tapped.
A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Great-O-Khan (25:50)
This was missing something. Shingo had his ribs taped up, but O-Khan didn’t really go after them until past the 15 minute mark. They just kind of went back and forth, your turn, my turn on offense until that point.
After trading shoulder blocks, Shingo rolled outside in an attempt to control the pace. O-Khan knocked him off the apron with a pump kick, then sent him into the barricade. O-Khan again sent Shingo into the fence.
O-Khan used a nerve hold and a chinlock. They traded chops. They traded Mongolian chops. Shingo hit a DDT, a knee lift and got a knockdown off a tackle. Shingo hit a corner clothesline and a vertical suplex.
O-Khan blocked a sliding lariat and hit a judo throw. O-Khan tied Shingo to the tree of woe and hit a running kick. O-Khan used the iron claw on the back of Shingo’s head. Shingo fired up and hit a combination of strikes in the corner.
They traded strikes. Shingo hit a lariat and a Saito suplex. O-Khan answered with a pump kick. Each no-sold a suplex. Shingo hit a sliding lariat. O-Khan blocked Made in Japan and noshigami.
O-Khan used a bearhug and slammed Shingo into the corner pad. O-Khan used the sheep killer. He gave up the hold and hit a slam for a two count.
Shingo blocked the Eliminator and got a cross armbreaker applied. Shingo snapped back on the arm. O-Khan absorbed two lariats. Shingo blocked a pump kick and used it to set up Made in Japan for a near fall.
O-Khan reversed a Last of the Dragon attempt into a gordbuster. They traded strikes. Shingo blocked an iron claw with a short forearm strike.
O-Khan blocked Last of the Dragon. O-Khan blocked a Pumping Bomber with a lariat for a near fall.
Shingo blocked the Eliminator and hit a dragon suplex and a sliding forearm. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber for a near fall.
Shingo hit Last of the Dragon and got the pin.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 16, Thursday, October 14, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tama Tonga
B Block: Jeff Cobb vs. EVIL
B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
B Block: Hirooki Goto vs. SANADA
B Block: Taichi vs. Chase Owens
Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita
The G1 Climax 31 B Block continued today in Sendai.
Hiroshi Tanahashi faced Jeff Cobb in the main event, while Hirooki Goto took on EVIL in the semi-main.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Chase Owens, SANADA vs. YOSHI-HASHI and Taichi vs. Tama Tonga were the other tournament matches.
Hiromu Takahashi vs. Ryohei Oiwa was the non-tournament opener today.
Here are results and a report from the show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Jeff Cobb vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Kazuchika Okada vs. Chase Owens
Taichi vs. Tama Tonga
SANADA vs. YOSHI-HASHI
Report —
Hiromu Takahashi defeated Ryohei Oiwa (7:16)
This was just Hiromu toying with Oiwa.
Oiwa scored a quick knockdown with a shoulder tackle. He went for a slam, but Hiromu blocked. They traded chops. Hiromu won the chop battle, then continued to lay in the chops. He hit about 40 unanswered chops.
Oiwa’s chest was bright red from all the chops. Hiromu went for a series of covers off the chops, but Oiwa kept kicking out. Hiromu went for a crab, but Oiwa got to the ropes before it was applied.
Oiwa missed with two dropkick attempts. He hit one on the third try. Hiromu blocked another slam. Oiwa hit a slam and a gutwrench throw for a two count. He went for a crab, but Hiromu blocked and started chopping again.
Hiromu applied a full Boston crab. Oiwa couldn’t reach the ropes and tapped out.
B Block: Tama Tonga (w/Jado) defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (12:58)
The story of the match was Tama going after Taichi’s taped-up ribs. Taichi wasn’t able to sustain any offense without selling the ribs. A simple story, but a good match.
Tonga used a body scissors early. Taichi answered with a kick, but dropped to the mat to sell the damage to his ribs from the hold.
Tonga blocked an enzuigiri and hit a dropkick. He missed a corner splash and Taichi hit a gamengiri in the corner, but again sold his ribs. Tonga missed his supreme flow frog splash. Taichi hit an axe bomber. He hit a second, but Tonga popped right up.
Taichi blocked a Gun Stun and hit a backdrop suplex. Tonga avoided Black Mephisto and hit a death valley bomb. Tonga hit a frog splash for a near fall.
Tonga then connected with the Gun Stun for the upset win.
B Block: SANADA defeated YOSHI-HASHI (17:35)
I don’t think of either of these guys as a ring general who can have a good match with anyone, so this had me worried. To their credit, they delivered and had a very good match.
YOSHI-HASHI got the better of a mat wrestling sequence. SANADA hit a dropkick. He went to the apron to try a springboard, but YH cut him off and pulled him to the floor. YH hit a drop toe hold onto the barricade to take control of the bout.
Back inside, YH hit some strikes. He connected with a running chop in the corner. SANADA avoided a neckbreaker, hit a dropkick to the knee, then used an atomic drop to set up a paradise lock.
After breaking the hold, SANADA sent YH to the floor with a rana. He went for a plancha, but missed. YH followed with his own plancha. YH hit a blockbuster for a near fall as he remained in the plus position.
SANADA avoided one powerbomb, but YH was able to hit a misdirection lariat. He then hit the powerbomb for a near fall. SANADA blocked a bunker buster and hit a magic screw into a double down as the match reset.
SANADA hit a missile dropkick. He used the threat of a TKO to set up Skull End. YH fought out of the hold and went for Kharma. SANADA reversed into the TKO for a two count. SANADA went for a moonsault, but YH got his knees up. YH tried a senton bomb, but SANADA got his knees up.
They exchanged strikes. Time stood still as YH waited to set up a spot. YH used a dragon suplex, but SANADA rolled through. YH hit a meteora, then hit Kumagoroshi for another two count.
SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a near fall. YH used a cradle for a two count as they traded near falls. SANADA draped YH across the top rope to hit a TKO.
SANADA hit a moonsault, then locked in Skull End. YH tapped out.
B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Chase Owens (15:37)
They told a great story. Okada was in cruise control. Owens got lucky on blocking a couple of big moves, then gained confidence as the match wore on. Owens didn’t score much of his own offense, but he had a counter for all of Okada’s big moves and almost pulled off the upset.
Okada broke cleanly after locking up, then hit some tackles. Okada did some of his greatest hits with a neckbreaker and a running back elbow. Owens got his knees up on a slingshot senton, allowing a brief flurry.
Okada hit a DDT on the floor to regain control. He went for the Money Clip in the ring, but Owens forced free and hit a backbreaker. Owens got another flurry with a top rope cutter and a slingshot spear for near falls.
Okada reversed a whip and hit a dropkick. He used the Money Clip, but Owens forced a rope break. Okada hit a slam and a top rope elbow drop. Okada hit his Rainmaker pose.
Owens elbowed free of a Rainmaker attempt Owens hit two v-triggers. Okada stepped out of the way of a third and hit a German suplex. Owens avoided a Rainmaker and a dropkick. Okada hit a backdrop to avoid the package piledriver.
Okada used a backslide to set up a Rainmaker attempt. Owens hit two kicks and another v-trigger to break the attempt. Okada slid out of another package driver attempt. Okada used the Money Clip to set up a tombstone.
Owens ducked a Rainmaker and used a backslide to set up a package driver attempt. They traded cradles for near falls.
Okada hit a backbreaker, then went back to the Money Clip. Owens tapped out.
B Block: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated Hirooki Goto (14:16)
They used every EVIL trope at least once. Goto tried and had a better match than most guys have had with EVIL, but this was no good.
Togo immediately exposed a turnbuckle. EVIL bumped Goto into the ring announcer for a countout tease. EVIL bumped Goto into the ring announcer again. EVIL sent Goto into the exposed buckle. Goto fired out and hit an ushigoroshi.
EVIL bumped the referee. Togo jumped in and they hit a Magic Killer for a near fall. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a near fall. Goto managed a reverse GTR and a lariat for a two count.
Goto cradled EVIL, but Togo took the ref. Togo jumped into the ring. Goto sent EVIL into Goto. Goto sent EVIL into the buckle and hit the GTW for a near fall.
Goto went for a GTR, but EVIL hooked the ref. Togo choked Goto with his ligature. EVIL hit Everything is EVIL and got the pin.
B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (19:05)
Great main event. For all their issues, NJPW has perfectly booked Cobb this year. His matches never go too long, everything he does looks great, plus he sells just enough to make his opponents credible. Tanahashi continues to have an incredible year in the ring as well.
Tana did his best to avoid Cobb’s power. He took a powder after a lockup. Tana worked a side headlock. Cobb came back and nailed a dropkick and a standing moonsault, trying to show he could win with his agility if Tana avoided his power.
Cobb went for a somersault senton to mock Tana, but missed with it. Tana then hit a senton for a near fall. Tana hit a dropkick to the legs and a dragon screw. Tana used his Texas Clover Hold, but Cobb forced a rope break. Cobb sold the damage to his legs.
Cobb went for a superplex, but Tana blocked and dragged Cobb down the apron to hit a dragon screw in the ropes, still attacking the legs.
Tana hit a High Fly Flow to the floor. Cobb just beat the count back in. Cobb blocked a slingblade. Tana reversed a suplex attempt into twist and shout. Tana hit slingblade for a near fall.
Cobb got his legs up and Tana crashed and burned on a High Fly Flow. They traded strikes. Tana reversed a spin cycle into another slingblade for a near fall.
Tana went for High Fly Flow again, but Cobb caught him and hit an F5. Tana reversed a Tour of the Islands into an inside cradle and a near fall.
Cobb absorbed a palm strike, then hit a deadlift German and a Tour of the Islands for the pin to remain undefeated.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 15, Wednesday, October 13, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
A decent tag team opener. Oiwa remains ahead of Fujita at this point in their development, but Fujita was good here.
Oiwa and Kanemaru started off. Fujita jumped in for a double shoulder block. Oiwa got hit with a back suplex from Kanemaru and was cut off.
Oiwa made a comeback on Desperado with a gutwrench suplex and a dropkick. Fujita got a hot tag and hit Despy with a dropkick. After failing to get a crab on Desperado in their singles match, Fujita got one here, but Desperado reached the ropes.
Desperado hit a backdrop and put the Indian deathlock on Fujita. Oiwa saved, but Kanemaru tossed Oiwa outside. Fujita used an inside cradle for a near fall.
Desperado then locked on Numero Dos and Fujita tapped out.
Tomohiro Ishii defeated Hiromu Takahashi (18:13)
Excellent match. Their New Japan Cup match from a year ago was more crisp, but that was one of the first great matches of the pandemic era and it isn’t really fair to compare them.
Ishii side-stepped a shotgun dropkick at the opening bell. Hiromu avoided a sliding lariat. Each avoided a series of big moves from the other. A great way to open.
Ishii took over, using his heavyweight power to win an exchange of shoulder tackles. Ishii got the better of a chop battle. Hiromu came back with a hurricanrana. He teased a sunset bomb, but Ishii blocked. Hiromu hit a DVD on the apron instead.
Hiromu escaped an electric chair and hit something resembling dynamite plunger for a near fall. Hiromu hit some palm strikes to the face. They traded some working headbutts. Ishii hit a lariat, then the sliding variation for a near fall.
Hiromu escaped a brainbuster attempt and tried a wheelbarrow bulldog, but slammed Ishii’s head right into the mat for real. Ishii appeared to be okay. Hiromu rolled through on an Ishii German and hit three superkicks.
Hiromu reversed another brainbuster attempt and hit victory royal. He then hit a DVD into the corner pad. Hiromu hit Time Bomb, but Ishii kicked out. Hiromu hit a clothesline for a two count.
Ishii again tried for a brainbuster, again Hiromu blocked. Ishii hit a clothesline, an enzuigiri and a another clothesline for a near fall.
Hiromu reversed another brainbuster attempt and used a cradle for a two count. Ishii no-sold a superkick and hit a lariat.
Ishii then was finally able to hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
A Block: KENTA defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (22:24)
These guys did something I haven’t seen done well in a long time, which was a heel vs. heel match where both played heel and did it effectively. Sometimes someone plays babyface just for the match to make it work better, but not here. Both guys were extremely unsavory, but still entertaining. This was a great match.
They beat the crap out of each other. It felt like a real fight at points. They began striking. The story of most Sabre matches is that he gets out-struck, but with KENTA being a smaller heavyweight, they went back and forth pretty evenly in the striking.
They brawled outside. Sabre stomped on KENTA’s taped left knee. KENTA answered in the ring with a DDT. KENTA covered Sabre with one foot, Sabre kicked out before one. Sabre came back with two neck twists, then covered KENTA with one foot.
They continued to go back and forth with strikes. KENTA tried a green killer, but Sabre blocked and slapped on an octopus in the ropes. Sabre then stomped on KENTA’s taped left shoulder and targeted it for the rest of the match.
Sabre used two submission attempts, KENTA forced two rope breaks. KENTA hit a Busaiku knee. He went for a second, but Sabre caught him in a heel hook for the second time in the match. KENTA forced a break. Sabre propped KENTA up in the corner and kicked at the left leg.
KENTA blocked a PK and hit a clothesline. Sabre ducked a kick and trapped both of KENTA’s legs, but KENTA forced another rope break. Sabre stomped on the left leg. KENTA went for Go To Sleep, but Sabre blocked and used a clutch hold for a near fall.
They traded palm strikes. Sabre blocked a GTS and used an ankle lock on the left leg. KENTA twisted out and hit a drop toe hold into an exposed turnbuckle, then caught Sabre on the rebound with a GTS for the pin.
A Block: Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) by countout (10:23)
Yano matches should all be under five minutes. This was five minutes of comedy stretched across ten minutes.
Yujiro hit a running boot before the bell, then busted out a tope suicida after the bell. Yujiro wrapped Yano up in athletic tape and hit a big boot with Yano seated on a chair at the bottom of the ramp. Yano beat the count back in at 19.
Yujiro exposed a buckle and whipped Yano into it. Yano exposed a second buckle and whipped Yano into it. Yujiro exposed a third buckle and whipped Yano into it. Pieter took the ref as Yujiro hit Yano with his walking stick.
Yujiro hit a drive-by kick, but Yano hit an inverted atomic drop. Yano avoided a whip and used a schoolboy for a two count. Yujiro blocked a low blow. Yano took a front turnbuckle. Yano raked Yujiro’s eyes and hit a belly-to-belly. Yujiro stopped the comeback with a lariat.
Yujiro hit a fisherman buster for a two count. Yano blocked Pimp Juice and hit a low blow. He used a school boy, but Yujiro grabbed the ref and bumped him. Yujiro hit a low blow.
They went to the floor. Yujiro tried to handcuff Yano. Yano escaped and crawled under the ring. Yujiro went under the ring. Yano emerged and got back in. Yujiro crawled out with his hands cuffed behind his back and could not beat the count back in. Yano stole a countout win.
A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (19:08)
This was Shingo doing his best NWA Champion in the 80s match. He gave Loa a ton of offense before finally slipping over in the end. A very good match.
Shingo got an early knockdown and hit a senton. Loa reversed a whip and hit a dropkick. He low-bridged Shingo to the apron and hit a back suplex on the apron to take control of the match.
Loa hit a slingshot senton and a standing moonsault for a two count. Loa used a chinlock, no-sold a snap vertical suplex and hit a tackle. Loa backed Shingo into the corner and hit some clotheslines. Loa hit a powerslam for another near fall.
Loa used the OJK. Shingo forced a break. Shingo came back with strikes and hit a DDT. Shingo hit a suplex. Loa hit a blue thunder bomb for a near fall. Shingo hit a backdrop. Loa hit an exploder and a lariat.
Loa hit a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. They fought to the top rope. Loa slipped coming off the second rope as he hit a powerslam. Shingo immediately started selling his collarbone and I was concerned that he was hurt, but he appeared fine. Loa could have torn his knee up slipping like that also. A scary spot.
Shingo blocked Apesh*t and hit a sliding lariat and a superplex. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, but Loa didn’t go down. Loa ate two more lariat, then blocked a third with a spear.
Shingo blocked a powerbomb with a hurricanrana and hit a lariat. They exchanged strikes. Loa hit a headbutt to the chest. Shingo blocked Apesh*t again and hit a GTR in the ropes.
Shingo hit Last of the Dragon for the pin.
A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Great-O-Khan (20:22)
This never reached the level of a great NJPW main event to me. A good match, but was overshadowed by the previous bout.
They started very slowly. They did some tentative striking, then some mat wrestling with neither gaining a notable advantage. O-Khan took Ibushi down and hooked his leg in a submission attempt, then began kicking at the left leg.
Ibushi fired off some sharp upkicks from the mat, then locked in a figure four. Ibushi pounded the mat to try to get the crowd into it. O-Khan used a rolling kneebar, but Ibushi reached the ropes. O-Khan was firmly in control as he laid in some strikes in the corner.
Ibushi went into murder Ibushi mode and hit a series of palm strikes and a Bomaye. O-Khan ended up with a bloody nose. O-Khan used a heel hook to set up an ankle lock, but Ibushi kicked his way free.
Ibushi fired off some more palm strikes and hit a big knee. He called for Kamigoye, but O-Khan avoided it. Ibushi avoided the iron claw and hit a high kick for a near fall.
Ibushi went for Kamigoye, but O-Khan put the iron claw on the knee. Ibushi blocked the Dominator and hit a v-trigger, then hit Kamigoye and got the pin.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 14, Tuesday, October 12, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
The G1 Climax 31 B Block continued today in Kochi.
Kazuchika Okada took on Taichi in the main event, while Hiroshi Tanahashi faced EVIL in the semi-main.
SANADA vs. Jeff Cobb, Hirooki Goto vs. Chase Owens, plus YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tama Tonga were the other tournament matches today.
El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita was the non-G1 opener.
Here are results and a report from the show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi
Jeff Cobb vs. SANADA
Report —
El Desperado defeated Kosei Fujita (8:27)
This followed the same template as last night’s Desperado/Oiwa match, but Oiwa is more advanced and Fujita’s offense was simpler.
They traded holds. Desperado got fed up and turned to striking to take control. Fujita came back with a backdrop, then tried to lock on a crab, but couldn’t get it.
Desperado used an Indian deathlock for the submission, as he did yesterday.
B Block: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (13:14)
Good match, good effort from both guys. They worked it like the second match of the card, meaning they didn’t kick out of a bunch of stuff. The story of the match was Tonga going for a Gun Stun to put it away but never being able to hit it.
They traded headlocks and head scissors escapes on the mat. YH hit a back elbow, a tackle and a headhunter. YH draped Tonga across the top strand and hit a dropkick to the back for a near fall.
Tonga turned the tide with a chop and a series of elbow drops. Tama reversed a neckbreaker attempt into a Tongan Twist for a near fall. He used an SRC and his Supreme Flow frog splash for a near fall. YH blocked a Gun Stun with a backstabber.
YH blocked a Gun Stun and hit a lariat and a Kumagoroshi for a two count.
YH blocked another Gun Stun attempt and hit a lariat, then hit Kharma for the pin.
B Block: Hirooki Goto defeated Chase Owens (12:41)
After an upset win over Tanahashi on the last B Block show, they had a built-in story as Owens looked to surprise another veteran. Good match, but they didn’t have time to build it into a great one.
Owens hit a shotgun dropkick at the opening bell, then followed with a missile dropkick off the top as he tried to steal an early victory. Goto hit a shoulder block to slow the momentum.
They traded submission attempts. Owens went for a package driver on the apron, but Goto fought it off and sent Owens to the floor. Owens went for the driver in the ring, but Goto blocked with a strike. Owens hit a knee strike into a double down.
Owens hit a jewel heist for a two count. Owens reversed one GTR attempt. Goto looked to set up an ushigoroshi, but used the position to hit the GTR and get the pin.
B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated SANADA (14:17)
Cobb has been booked perfectly. His matches rarely go over 15 minutes, nor should they. This felt like a real athletic contest.
SANADA hit a senton off the apron as he looked to outclass Cobb with his speed. SANADA kicked at Cobb’s left knee. Cobb rolled outside. SANADA went for a plancha, but Cobb caught him and powered him into the post.
Back inside, Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a two count. SANADA flipped over the top rope on a whip into the corner, then hit a springboard dropkick and a standing moonsault of his own.
Cobb blocked a TKO. SANADA hit a dropkick to the left leg as he continued to target it. SANADA used Cobb’s momentum off the ropes to hit a TKO for a two count. SANADA hit a magic screw, but Cobb reached under the ropes to break the pinfall attempt.
Cobb hit a gutwrench throw. Cobb went for Tour of the Islands, but SANADA reversed into Skull End. SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a near fall. SANADA rolled through on a moonsault attempt as Cobb rolled out of the way.
SANADA tried another moonsault, but Cobb caught him and planted him with Tour of the Islands for the pin.
B Block: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (17:22)
If we didn’t see the same EVIL match every night, this would have been fine. Tanahashi had a much better match with him than anyone else has, but I’m beyond over EVIL. The gimmick and his matches are just brutal.
Tanahashi tried to keep the match in the ring. EVIL sent him to the apron and kicked the rope into his crotch. EVIL sent Tana into the barricade.
Togo exposed a buckle and took the ref. EVIL dragged Tana to the ramp and used a chair on his left knee. Tanahashi made it back in before a countout, but EVIL found his target in the left leg.
Tana fired up, but EVIL used an eye poke to cut him off. Tana fired up, EVIL pulled his hair. Tana then pulled EVIL’s hair. Tana hit a flying forearm out of the corner. Tana hit a slam and a somersault senton for a near fall.
EVIL blocked slingblade. Togo interfered and hit Tana. EVIL hit a lariat on the floor. EVIL bumped Tana into the barricade and the ring announcer took a bump. EVIL repeatedly used a scorpion deathlock on the floor. Togo pulled Tana back to the floor for a countout tease.
They traded whips into the exposed buckle. Tanahashi reversed an STO into twist and shout. Tana hit a High Fly Flow to the back. He used his Texas Clover Hold, but Togo pulled the ref out of the ring.
Tana put Togo in the Clover Hold, but EVIL saved. Tana hit Everything is EVIL on Togo. He tried to hit EVIL with his own finish, but EVIL blocked. They traded low blows. The ref was revived as they did a double down after the low blows.
Tana went for slingblade, but EVIL threw the ref in his path as we had our second ref bump.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls, then hit Tana with the IWGP US title belt. EVIL hit Everything is EVIL and covered for the pin.
B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (23:10)
This was a psychological thriller with one of the best closing stretches you’ll see all year.
The thing that Okada does better than anyone ever is to change up the order of his signature spots. These guys have had a million matches, but you’ve never seen this one before because of the way he sequenced his big moves throughout.
After Okada’s obligatory clean break after the opening lockup, they fought to the floor. They traded whips into the barricade. Taichi lifted the floor padding and hit a DDT on the floor to take over.
Back in the ring, Okada came back wit a flapjack. Okada hit a neckbreaker. Taichi answered with a DDT and a gamengiri. Taichi ducked a Rainmaker swing, but Okada blocked Black Mephisto. Taichi hit a chokeslam, but Okada answered with a dropkick.
Okada used the Money Clip, reapplying the hold twice as Taichi tried to fight to the ropes. Taichi fought the hold for a long time, then finally made the ropes just past the 15 minute call.
Okada hit a top rope elbow, then hit his Rainmaker pose. Taichi ducked a Rainmaker and hit a huge thrust kick. They traded strikes.
Okada slid out of Black Mephisto and sat down into a cradle for a two count. Taichi ducked a Rainmaker and hit a dropkick. This sequence was great. Taichi hit a gamengiri and a backdrop suplex for a near fall.
Taichi absorbed a spinning Rainmaker and stumbled into the ropes. Taichi hit an axe bomber. Okada hit another dropkick and a spinning tombstone.
Taichi ducked another Rainmaker and used a Gedo clutch for a near fall. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick to the head. Okada blocked the three point stance forearm and hit a landslide, then hit the Rainmaker for the pin.
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Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 13, Saturday, October 9, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Great-O-Khan
A Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Tanga Loa
A Block: Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi
A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. KENTA
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hiromu Takahashi
El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita
The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today in Hiroshima.
Tomohiro Ishii took on The Great-O-Khan in the main event, while Shingo Takagi faced Toru Yano in the semi-main.
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Yujiro Takahashi and Kota Ibushi vs. Tanga Loa were the other tournament matches today.
Hiromu Takahashi vs. KENTA and El Desperado vs. Ryohei Oiwa were the non-G1 matches.
Here are results and a report from the show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Great-O-Khan
Hiromu Takahashi vs. KENTA
Kota Ibushi vs. Tanga Loa
Report —
El Desperado defeated Ryohei Oiwa (6:38)
This was a fun little battle.
They traded holds. Desperado fish hooked Oiwa to get the better of the grappling exchange. They then traded strikes. Desperado took the match back to the mat and went to work on Oiwa’s legs.
Oiwa hit a cool suplex out of a waistlock, then hit a dropkick. He tried for a crab, but Desperado fought him off and used an Indian deathlock. Oiwa tried to fight out with strikes, but eventually tapped out.
KENTA defeated Hiromu Takahashi (19:01)
Very good stuff. They worked Hiromu’s pace and KENTA more than held his own.
Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick right off the bat. They brawled to the outside. Hiromu threw KENTA into the fence, but KENTA posted Hiromu to take control of the bout. KENTA mocked Tetsuya Naito’s signature taunt.
Hiromu made a comeback with a hurricanrana and a falcon arrow. KENTA escaped a dynamite plunger and hit a powerslam. KENTA hit a DDT for a near fall. KENTA hit a swing DDT across the top rope, then another DDT.
KENTA locked on Game Over. Hiromu fought out as KENTA tried to re-position the hold. KENTA low-bridged Hiromu to the floor. He teased a DDT off the apron, but Hiromu shoved KENTA into the security fence. KENTA hit a powerslam on the floor.
KENTA hit a stalling dropkick in the corner as Hiromu climbed back into the ring. KENTA missed with a double stomp off the top. Hiromu launched KENTA into the corner pad with a release German.
They traded strikes. KENTA bumped Hiromu into the referee and hit a DDT. With the ref out, KENTA brought a chair in. Hiromu dared KENTA to use the chair, so KENTA hit a series of strikes instead. They traded strikes. Hiromu hit the ropes, but KENTA tossed the chair at him. KENTA then hit two more chair shots and a Green Killer on the chair. The ref was revived, but Hiromu kicked out at two.
Hiromu escaped two GTS attempts, but KENTA hit him with a series of palm strikes to the face and neck. Hiromu tried to block a Busaiku knee with a lariat, but couldn’t get any power on it. They stumbled as Hiromu went for a victory royal, but Hiromu got it on his second attempt for a double down.
KENTA slid out of a Time Bomb attempt. Hiromu hit two thrust kicks and a lariat for a near fall. Hiromu hit a DVD into the corner pad. KENTA escaped another Time Bomb attempt, sent Hiromu into an exposed turnbuckle and used a schoolboy for the pin.
A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (13:46)
This was not the most crisp effort in the sense that their timing wasn’t perfect, but they worked hard and had a great match.
Ibushi hit a dropkick and sent Loa rolling to the floor. Ibushi teased a running kick against the barricade, but Loa hit a spear on the floor. Back inside, Loa used a chinlock and an exploder.
Ibushi came back with a flying mid kick, a powerslam, then hit a second rope moonsault for a near fall. Loa hit a combination of strikes and a blue thunder bomb for a two count. Ibushi answered with a last ride for a two count.
Ibushi went for a Kamigoye to the back, but Loa reversed and hit his own Kamigoye to the back. Loa hit a powerbomb for a two count. They traded Germans, then traded poison ranas.
Ibushi hit a Bomaye. He tried to set up Kamigoye, but Loa hit a spear instead. Ibushi escaped Apesh*t and hit a tombstone.
Ibushi then hit Kamigoye to get the win.
A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (14:15)
Our run of good matches tonight ended here. This was a style clash to say the least.
Sabre was outclassing Yujiro on the mat early. Yujiro used the threat of a ref bump to set up a low blow, but Sabre blocked. Sabre continued to dominate on the mat.
Yujiro bit Sabre’s foot and hit a basement dropkick. Sabre rolled to the floor. Yujiro sent him into the barricade, then used his pimp cane as a weapon. Sabre beat the count back inside.
Yujiro worked Sabre over in a dull manner. Just slow-motion offense after slow-motion offense. Sabre blocked a fisherman buster and kicked at Yujiro’s left arm. Sabre continued to attack the arm. Yujiro answered with a reverse DDT.
Sabre reversed an Angle slam into a crucifix for a two count. Yujiro missed a sliding dropkick. Yujiro then hit the Angle slam. They traded strikes. Sabre got an octopus applied, but Yujiro hit Miami Shine out of it for a two count.
Yujiro hit Pimp Juice for a near fall. He went for Big Juice, but Sabre pretzeled him with a head scissors and a hammerlock. Yujiro tapped out.
A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Toru Yano (8:17)
As Yano comedy matches go, this was certainly not a classic.
Yano produced two blindfolds. He threw one to Shingo and tried to get him to put it on. Shingo relented when the crowd cheered for it. As soon as he put his on, Yano took his own blindfold off and used a schoolboy for a two count.
They did some more comedy with the blindfolds, then dueled with the corner pads. Shingo hit chops and a senton for a near fall. They traded strikes, then pulled each other’s hair.
Yano hit a drop toe hold into an exposed buckle for a near fall, then hit a low blow for another. Shingo hit a lariat. He pulled Yano’s shirt over his head and hit a sliding lariat for a two count.
With Yano’s shirt still pulled over his head, Shingo hit Last of the Dragon for the pin.
A Block: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Great-O-Khan (26:26)
Ishii used every trick he knows to get a great match out of O-Khan.
Neither would go down as they traded shoulder tackles. O-Khan used a misdirection shoulder tackle to finally send Ishii to the mat. They traded strikes. Ishii scored a knockdown off a forearm strike, but sold his right arm after.
They fought to the outside. O-Khan sent Ishii into the barricade. Ishii sold his arm and his lower back. Back inside, Ishii avoided O-Khan sitting on his neck in the corner, but O-Khan hit a Mongolian chop off the middle rope.
Ishii hit a tackle, then a series of chops. Ishii hit a vertical suplex. O-Khan caught Ishii charging in and hit a throw. O-Khan tied Ishii to the tree of woe and hit a sliding dropkick. The referee freed Ishii from the corner.
They traded chops as the match reset. O-Khan hit two Mongolian chops. Ishii stepped out of the way of a third and hit a backdrop suplex. Each no-sold forearm shots from the other. O-Khan finally dropped Ishii with a heavy forearm in the corner at 15 minutes.
Ishii blocked a superplex and hit a powerbomb out of the corner for a two count. O-Khan blocked a sliding lariat and used a head and arm choke. Ishii escaped and hit a divorce court, then used a kimura. He slipped to a cross armbreaker, but O-Khan forced a break.
Ishii blocked an iron claw. They traded some working headbutts, then Ishii hit a headbutt to the chest. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for a two count.
O-Khan escaped a brainbuster. Ishii blocked a pump kick. O-Khan hit a gordbuster into a double down at 20 minutes.
O-Khan hit a back suplex for a two count. Ishii hit forearm strikes. O-Khan hit a pounce. O-Khan blocked a lariat and locked on the sheep killer. O-Khan hit a tombstone driver, but Ishii kicked out at two.
Ishii escaped the Eliminator. Ishii hit a German. O-Khan rolled through on the suplex and hit a pump kick. O-Khan hit the ropes, but ran into a lariat. O-Khan kicked out at one.
O-Khan ducked a lariat and hit his own clothesline just past 25 minutes. They teased finishers. Ishii hit an enzuigiri. Ishii hit a lariat. O-Khan kicked out at two.
Ishii hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster and got the pin.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 12, Friday, October 8, 6 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
The G1 Climax 31 B Block continued today at Korakuen Hall.
Kazuchika Okada faced SANADA in the main event, while Hirooki Goto took on YOSHI-HASHI in the semi-main.
Taichi vs. Jeff Cobb, EVIL vs. Tama Tonga, plus Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens were the other tournament matches today.
Here are results and a report from the show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI
Jeff Cobb vs. Taichi
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens
Report —
B Block: Chase Owens defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (10:58)
You have to see this if only for the result.
They opened with some grappling. After trading holds, Owens hit a dropkick. Tana came back with a crossbody off the second rope. Owens answered with his own crossbody. As Tana went for a flying forearm, Owens hit a dropkick to the left leg to take control of the match.
Owens continued to attack the left leg with holds and strikes. Tana managed a flying forearm, but Owens cut him off again by going after the leg. Owens hit a short clothesline in the corner and a jewel heist for a near fall.
Owens went for the package piledriver, but Tana hit a backdrop and sent him to the apron. Tana hit a dragon screw in the ropes, then connected with a slingblade.
Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. He went for another High Fly Flow, but Owens got his knees up. Owens used a schoolboy with his feet on the ropes for a two count. Owens used a backslide for another near fall.
Tana blocked a v-trigger with a palm strike. Tana went to hit the ropes, but Owens hit two more v-triggers to block. Owens hit the package piledriver and pinned Tanahashi.
Chase Owens pinned Hiroshi Tanahashi clean in the middle.
Owens draped Tanahashi’s IWGP US belt across the fallen Ace’s chest after the match to set up a future title match.
NJPW seems to think that the American audience only wants to see Americans holding or challenging for the United States title. I think the Americans would much rather see the best guys and the best matches possible regardless of nationality. No offense intended to the Chase Owens and David Finlays of the world.
B Block: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (13:47)
We were this close to finally getting a good match out of EVIL. Then the finish happened.
All four did the too sweet hand gesture before the match to signify that they would be adhering to the Bullet Club code of honor.
Tonga hit some classic Haku offense early. EVIL rolled outside to collect himself. Togo exposed a turnbuckle and Tonga missed a splash into the steel. Togo tried to interfere, but Jado wandered over to stop him.
Tonga dodged a charge and EVIL ran into the buckle. Tonga hit a neckbreaker and three dropkicks as he turned the bout in his favor. Tonga whipped EVIL into the exposed buckle. Tonga hit a splash in the corner for a two count.
EVIL blocked a Tongan Twist with a rake of the eyes and hit a ref-assisted mid kick. EVIL went for a scorpion deathlock. Tonga used a Tongan death grip to block, then used his own scorpion deathlock. EVIL forced a rope break.
Tonga went up top, but aborted whatever he had planned as EVIL grabbed the referee. EVIL pulled the ref in Tonga’s path and hit a ref-assisted Magic Killer for a two count. EVIL got the scorpion deathlock applied, but Tonga got to the ropes.
Tonga blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a Tongan Twist for a two count. EVIL blocked a Gun Stun. Tonga blocked a low blow and hit a death valley driver. Tonga hit a top rope splash for a two count.
Tonga called for the Gun Stun, but the lights went out. When the lights came back on, Togo was choking Tonga with his ligature and the ref was out. Jado used a kendo stick on Togo.
EVIL hit Everything is EVIL and revived the ref, then covered Tonga for the pin.
SHO came to the ring after the match for the big reveal that he had turned the lights out.
B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (15:15)
These guys had a banger. Great stuff.
Cobb broke cleanly against the ropes after locking up. Cobb threw Taichi to the mat after another lockup. Taichi needed a new plan, so he went after Cobb’s taped left leg with kicks. They fought to the floor and Taichi sent Cobb into the barricade and choked him with camera cables.
Back inside, Cobb blocked a gamengiri in the corner and launched Taichi across the ring with a throw. Cobb stayed on offense and drove Taichi into the corner pads, just ragdoll-ing him around the ring. Taichi sold his back. Taichi came back with a high kick, then a gamengiri in the corner.
Taichi removed his trousers. Cobb hit a dropkick for a two count. Taichi hit an enzuigiri, then hit a series of mid kicks to the chest. Cobb dared him to fire more kicks, but Taichi kicked his leg out of his leg instead.
Cobb blocked an axe bomber and hit his own clothesline. Cobb hit a spin cycle and a standing moonsault for a pair of near falls. Taichi blocked a Tour of the Islands. His back gave out as he went for a backdrop suplex, selling the damage of the match.
Taichi blocked another attempt at Tour of the Islands with an illegal choke, then hit his backdrop suplex for a near fall. Cobb blocked a thrust kick and hit a thrust kick. Taichi hit a gamengiri and used a Gedo clutch for a near fall.
Taichi went for Black Mephisto. Cobb blocked and hit strikes to the lower back. Cobb dropped Taichi with a forearm strike. Taichi blocked Tour of the Islands with an axe bomber. Cobb avoided Black Mephisto and another high kick and hit a German.
Cobb then finally connected with Tour of the Islands and got the win.
B Block: Hirooki Goto defeated YOSHI-HASHI (16:57)
This was a great brawl. Great intensity from both guys. The crowd was alive tonight which helped greatly.
They had a striking battle at the outset. They brawled in the ring, then brawled to the floor. YH had the upper hand after a neckbreaker on the floor. Goto made it back in after a countout tease.
YH remained in control until Goto hit a lariat to cut him off. YH avoided a misdirection lariat, but Goto hit a throw and an ushigoroshi to get a near fall. Goto hit an inverted GTR, but YH kicked out. Goto went for a standard GTR, but YH reversed into Goto’s own Shouten Kai move.
They exchanged strikes. YH fired off chops. Goto threw a kick, but YH caught it and hit a headbutt. YH hit double knees for a near fall. YH hit a dragon suplex. Goto no-sold, but YH hit him with a thrust kick and a kumagoroshi for a two count.
YH used a sleeper at the 15 minute mark. Goto blocked Kharma and hit a headbutt. After a double down, Goto hit a GYW and a GTR for the pin.
B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated SANADA (29:14)
A great main event to cap what was probably the best night of the tournament so far.
They did some basic mat wrestling. Headlock takeovers, head scissor escapes and the like. Okada broke cleanly against the ropes after teasing a strike. Okada hit a big boot and an elbow drop. SANADA hit a dropkick five minutes in.
Okada avoided the paradise lock on the first attempt. SANADA used a frankensteiner to set up a second attempt and got the paradise lock on. SANADA broke it with a dropkick and got a two count. SANADA used a chinlock, Okada forced a rope break.
SANADA hammered at Okada’s neck with elbows. He hit a snap suplex for a two count as Okada sold his back. SANADA hit a back elbow, but missed a standing moonsault. Okada hit a running back elbow.
Okada hit a running back elbow in the corner, then a DDT out of the corner for a two count. SANADA blocked a tombstone attempt, but Okada hit a neckbreaker. Okada used a neck tie with SANADA’s own arms. SANADA forced a break at the 10 minute call.
Okada hit a sliding dropkick. SANADA avoided a senton and Okada sold his back again. SANADA hit a basement dropkick to the left knee and kipped up. SANADA hit an arm drag, a back breaker and a plancha.
Okada sent SANADA from a seated position on the top rope to the floor with a dropkick, then hit a DDT on the floor. SANADA beat the count back in at 18. Okada used the Money Clip. SANADA broke it quickly. Okada avoided a moonsault. SANADA landed on his feet and sold his right knee giving out on landing.
Okada hit a knee breaker and continued to go after the bad leg. Okada used the Money Clip again. After a long submission tease, SANADA fought to the ropes for a break.
Okada hit a slam and an elbow off the top. He hit his Rainmaker pose. SANADA ducked a Rainmaker and used Skull End. Okada immediately got out of the hold, but SANADA hit a TKO for a two count.
SANADA used a spinning Skull End and applied a body scissors with it on the mat at 20 minutes. SANADA gave up the hold as he always does against Okada. It’s a total logic break when he does that. SANADA went for a moonsault. Okada rolled out of the way and SANADA landed and sold his knee.
SANADA used a Destino to set up Skull End with the body scissors again. Okada made the ropes after teasing tapping out.
Okada avoided a magic screw. SANADA avoided a Rainmaker, but Okada hit his dropkick. SANADA hit a pop-up TKO and a moonsault. Okada kicked out at two. We heard the 25 minute call.
Okada used the threat of an air raid crash to use his sit-down cradle for a near fall. Okada hit a spinning tombstone into a double down. They traded strikes at the 27 minute call. SANADA no-sold a shotgun dropkick. Okada hit a German. SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a near fall at 28 minutes.
SANADA blocked the landslide and got Skull End again. Okada escaped. SANADA ducked a Rainmaker. Okada hit the landslide, then hit a Rainmaker. Okada covered for the pin.
Each gave the other a thumbs up after the match.
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Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 11, Thursday, October 7, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
